Office of Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of  Directors Meeting

June 7, 2016 Minutes

 

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on June 7, 2016. Attending the meeting were the Division Number Three Director who is serving as the Board of Directors Chairman Mr. Fred Schnebly, the Division Number Five Director who is serving as Board of Directors Vice Chairman Mr. Paul Weaver, Division Number Four Director Mr. Larry Bland, Division Number One Director Mr. Mark Hansen and Division Number Two Director Mr. Ed Wakkuri. Others attending were KRD Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, KRD Legal Counsel Mr. Jeff Slothower, KRD Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, KRD Office Manager & Treasurer Barbara Pettit, KRD Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender, KRD Field Supervisor & Water Master Bob Main, KRD GIS IT & Water Quality Specialist Roger Satnik and Mr. Chad Stuart USBR Yakima Field Office Manager. Janeice Jump who is a land owner within the KRD distribution area was also in attendance.

 

The Agenda was approved with the addition of Executive Session for reasons consistent with RCW 42.30.110(1)i through a motion made by Mr. Wakkuri and the second made by Mr. Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Stuart, USBR Yakima Field Office Manager, addressed the Board regarding his position and the importance of continuing the excellent relationship between the Bureau and the KRD. 

 

The minutes of the May 10, 2016 meeting were approved with a motion made by Mr. Bland and a second made by Mr. Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Under the agenda item Water Update, Field Supervisor & Water Master Main presented information on the USBR June 7, 2016 system status report explaining that storage is currently 111% of average with precipitation 117% of average. Inflows are 83% of average with water releases at 112% of average. 

 

The next agenda item was Public Comment, there were no public comments presented.

 

 The Secretary Manager’s Activity Report was given. It contained updates on meetings that occurred during the month of May. The report included information regarding the recent meetings in Washington D.C. pertaining to the KRD. It was reported that the KRD is continuing to build upon the successful 2015 tributary supplementation program and will be repeating it in the 2016 water season. It was also reported that the KRD will be closed from noon to 5 p.m. on June 14, 2016 for all KRD employees to participate in a half day safety training that will include lunch.

 

On the agenda item  Maintenance Update, Field Supervisor & Water Master Main presented a list of the 2015 USBR recommended maintenance items that have been completed at the Easton Dam. He also explained that the spraying of weeds in the right of way, the cutting of them with the weed eater tools and with the mower is continuing. It was also reported that eight hundred feet of pipe had been installed in the Pump Ditch Lateral 1.4. The pipe was supplied by the landowner. The Ross Spill Bridge in the Badger Pocket was repaired.

 

The next agenda item was the Professional Services RFQ Review Committee.  Secretary Manager Eberhart suggested establishing a committee to review and evaluate the qualifications and recommend a minimum of at least the three of the most qualified firms that will receive an RFP for the North Branch Canal Lining Project. A motion made by Mr. Hansen and a second made by Mr. Bland appointed Director Hansen, Director Weaver, Secretary Manager Eberhart and Assistant Manager Eslinger to the review committee. The motion passed unanimously.

 

The Electric Pumps agenda item was presented by Secretary Manager Eberhart. Information about the evaluation of the electric pumps at the Wipple Pumping Plant was presented. The review was conducted by a pump specialist who is an employee of the Bonneville Power Administration and showed that upgrades could be made. The pumps could operate more efficiently and would make better use of the power if appropriate upgrades were implemented.

 

On the agenda item Projects Report KRD Assistant Manager Eslinger presented information on the Rock Trap Project. The project is on schedule. Advertising to contractors for the project is set on the calendar for June 17, 2016. The Washington State Department of Ecology and KRD agreement for the SB 13.8 and 13.6 Upgrade Project was reported on and all work on that project has been completed. Secretary Manager Eberhart requested approval for payment to Belsaas and Smith for $194,580 for their work on it. A motion was made by Mr. Bland and a second was made by Mr. Wakkuri for the approval of the payment as requested. The motion passed unanimously.     

 

Office Manager & Treasurer Pettit presented a report on delinquent accounts. Discussion followed with the consensus that accounts meeting the foreclosure criteria will be forwarded to Legal Counsel Slothower.

 

Moving to New Business, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Bender presented information on KRD land owner Mr. Marlin Marks KRD acreage inclusion and exclusion issue. He had previously filed an exclusion application and paid the required fees. The previous request then went through the process and was approved.  Mr. Marks now has stated that he made an error in his previous request and requested the original application be reversed. Legal Counsel Slothower reported that Mr. Marks would need to file a new application for reversal and go through the process again. A motion made by Mr. Weaver and a second made by Mr. Wakkuri approved the acceptance of a new application with the stipulation that all fees will be paid by Mr. Marks. The motion passed unanimously.

 

KRD Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Bender presented information on a subdivision for Ms. Ruth Bare Sec. 28 Twn. 17 Rng 20;  Ms. Joan Nelson Sec. 17 Twn. 18 Rng 19;  Mr. Monte Hofstrand Sec. 31 Twn. 18 Rng.19; Mr. Edward Tucker Sec. 34 Twn.18 Rng.19;  Mr. Dan McElliott Sec. 20 Twn.18 Rng.19 and Mr. William Hanson Sec.1 Twn.17 Rng.19.  A motion was made by Mr. Hansen and a second made by Mr. Wakkuri approved the subdivisions as presented subject to them meeting the KRD General Guidelines. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Secretary Manager Eberhart requested approval for the payment of the USBR       O & M payment in the sum of $186,287.12 and the USBR CDR payment in the sum of $54,882.03. A motion made by Mr. Wakkuri and the second made by Mr. Weaver approved the request as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Office Manager & Treasurer Pettit apprised the Board there is a $48.00 per month increase in Medical Insurance rates effective July 1, 2016.

 

Secretary Manager Eberhart presented information on a no spray policy explaining a draft policy will be presented at a later meeting.

 

Moving to Other Business Secretary Manager Eberhart presented a letter from Kittitas County asking KRD to participate in the Comprehensive Plan Update.

 

GIS IT & Water Quality Specialist Satnik presented information on a potential SB 9.9 pipeline project. He explained that it was identified as a high priority in the feasibility study and that it is a good project for inclusion in the 2017 budget. The Board gave direction to go ahead with the planning and preparation for the SB 9.9 project at this time. A final decision on the project will be made when the 2017 budget is created. 

 

In Other Business Mr. Schnebly presented information on water being removed from a KRD Lateral for road construction by someone who did not have water ordered. They were taking the water that had been diverted into the Lateral for someone else. Secretary Manager Eberhart and Assistant Manager Eslinger had visited the site and explained to the parties involved that KRD water cannot be used out of a KRD Lateral unless it has been ordered and coordinated with the KRD Ditch Rider. The landowner agreed to order the water and coordinate orders with the Ditch Rider.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:10 p.m. for 20 minutes Per RCW 42.30.11(1)(i) to discuss potential litigation with a motion made by Mr. Wakkuri and a second made by Mr. Weaver. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:30 p.m. with a motion made by Mr. Bland and a second made by Mr. Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

 

The Summary Vouchers for the April, 2016 expenses vouchers #40204-40288 in the sum of $232,792.03 were approved with a motion for approval being made by Mr. Bland and a second that was made by Mr. Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

 

The Directors monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures and checks distributed accordingly.

 

All Business having been concluded the meeting adjourned.

 

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Mr. Schnebly KRD Board of Directors Chairman

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KRD Secretary Manager Eberhart